Search information pages

Antti Sajantila

After gaining his MD/PhD from the University of Helsinki in 1993, Dr. Sajantila worked as a post-doctoral fellow in the Institute of Zoology at the Ludwig Maximillian’s University in Munich, Germany. Between 1995 and 1999 he specialized to forensic medicine and headed at the same time the laboratory for forensic genetics and the Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki. Currently Dr. Sajantila is Professor (chair) in genetical forensic medicine and the Head of the Forensic Pathology Unit and Laboratory for Forensic Biology, at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Hjelt Insititute, University of Helsinki.

Current research areas include population genetics, particularly the biological history of Finno-Ugric populations, human identification, ancient DNA work, and genetics of sudden death and pharmacogenetics in a medico-legal context. He has published over 130 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, co-authored books in forensic genetics, pathology and pharmagocenetics. Professor Sajantila has given invited talks in several international conferences. He has also worked and given testimonies in forensic cases in several countries.

Applying know-how, derived from knowledge of modern genetics, to a variety of scientific problems is an opportunity and a challenge for any biologically focused scientist. Many of such applications have great societal importance with unforeseen consequences. I hope that in Investigative Genetics we can pin-point and share some of those issues.